The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-28
DISCOMFORT FOR THE BOYS
A Steady Downpour of Rain in st.
Louis Spells Most of the Fun.
Vast Throng of Veterans Seeking to Amuse
Themselves Under fiiculties-Recep-
tion at the Merchants Exchange.

OA' LoOlSs oop1 @i.-A4l piSAiASoS u AoiA
weather for ST. Louis to-day we're founded on
error. and the rain drops the veterans as
they pour out of the cars. camps and houses.
The clouds that settled over the city Sunday
morning have apparently come to stay, and the
dsagreeable dribble, mud and moisture laden
atmosphere have crushed out all hope of pa
rade to-day. and shortly after 9 o'clock Grand
Marshal Gen. D. P. Grier had posted in al
headquarters and conspicuous places order
that the grand review would be postponed
until Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock
This leaves another day for the comrades to
seek their own amusement. and the various
headquarters, post halls and camps are crowded
with them. The hotel halls and are
damned with people. while in the corridors
bands of music dispel the gloom with martial
airs. Long lines of people tramp the streets
and growl at the weather. The last of the line
had scarcely retired last night before the ad
vance were out for to-day. On all the railroads
leading into the city, excursion trains were
sidetracked, hours late, while those brought
through the tunnel damned all the tracks. No
such crowd was ever handled in the city in so
short a time.
The Governors and ex-Governors have re-
ported from time to time, and this morning the
following were ready to take the reviewing
stand: Governor Ogesby. of Illinois; Governor
Rusk, of Wisconsin; Governor Stoneman, of
California; Governor Fletcher, of Mis-
souri, Governor Crawford. of Kansas; Gov
ernor Evans. of Colorado Governor Sanders, of
Nebraska Governor Pierpont, of Virginia; Gov
ernor VIM Sprague. of Rhode Island; Vice
president Hannibal Hamlin. An extended pro-
gramme of receptions, luncheons and dinners
have peen prepared for their entertainment dur
ing the week.
When the grand parade was given up the boys
had nothing to do bur hunt No places of amuse-
ment. The exposition, consequently, was the
harbor OF thousands. and Gilmore had prepared
special programme of national airs and war
songs. The veterans came to see the sights and
they marched about until the sidewalks and
streets were sogged with mud. From camp to
camp. from hotel to hotel the columns wendell
their way. companied by drum corps or bands,
serenadng and serenaded. The tramp. tramp,
tramp. and the beat of the drum continually re-
sounded in the corridors of the hotels
An occasional quartet or glee club would vary
the instrumental music In the State head
quarters. at the Lindell Hotel. crowds jamned
the stairs, and for hours the comrades gathered
around the famous manned staff of Governor
Rusk Registration continued necessarily. but
still not one-quarter of the men in the city en-
rolled their names. OF all the States repre-
scented. Kansas reports the greater number of
soldiers, with Illinois following. then probably
Iowa and Missouri. and enough from all
quarters to give a good expression or opinion
from every department
A petition ia being generally signed asking
Congress to pass bill for the relief of INDECENT
veterans Such bill it is said, will be agreed
upon by the encampment On the flag issue
there is but one expression of opinion and the
subject is passed over with the satisfied air that
the flags still there.
The delegates to the convention have been
moving about visiting the different bodies to-day
and settling in their minds the best man for the
position of commander-in-chief. General Sher-
man, it is understood, has declined to accept the
office under any circumstances. 1t is generally
conceded that he would be chosen without oppo-
sition if he would accept.
Among tho other candidates there appears to
be material advantage. General Slocun's
friends are moving everywhere, making de-
termined fight Their headquarters in the
Southern Hotel are open at all hours, and en-
neEt places. New York and che East
have the handling of his forces. Gen
drawing from the West Their friends are
busy, but quiet. The Minnesota men have
brought out Judge John P. Rae, and his candi-
he will draw from all. Many predict the cleo
ton of dark horse, or an indefinite session.
The third national convention of the Woman's
Relief Corps meets at the same time the
twenty first annual encampment of the G. A.
r. Their convention will be called to order at
Harmonic Hall, at 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. President Mrs. Elizabeth DAri Kimes's
report for the year just closed has been given
out and shows a large increase in membership
In June, 1886. there were 854 corps, with Nom
bership of Sc. 500; in June. 1887. there were l.,
358 corps, with 40. 294 members The progress
of the organization has been the slowest in
Maine and New Mexico. Ohio leads.
with 6,092 members. and Kansas follows
closely with $3.50 members, and Michigan
third with 3. 700 members. During the past year
$50. 1G6 was distributed in charity. This does
not represent the thousands of visits to the sick
and destitute, or the food and luxures donated.
The Secretary reports; General fund on hand.
cs37 AIS; relief fund on hand. $50, 900 The Grand
the ladies push the bill for the pensioning of
army nurses.
At o'clock this evening the aids on thu staff
of Commander-inchIef Lucius Fairchild as
sembled at the Generals headquarters, at the
Southern Hotel, with their friends and pre-
scented to him the badge of past commander in
GOLD eagle holds in its talons the rank badge,
surrounded by fringe of diamonds,
and in the field four large gems
are set The star hanging from the
ribbon is studded with many gems, there being
seventy-one diamonds in all. Comrade John II.
Cook, of Lafayette Post, No. 140, of New York
City, member of the staff. made the presenta-
ton. Gen. Fairchild was vsibly affected, and
in thanking his staff displayed his attachment
to them and commended their loyalty to the
Grand Army. While friends were extending
CONGRATULATIONS, Comrade Cook on behalf of the
staff presented gold watch to Adjutant Gray.
At 8 o'clock this evening the doors of the Mer-
chanss's Exchange were thrown open for the sol
ders and their friends who were vending their
way to the reception rendered by the citizens of
ST. Louis. The immense chamber was profusely
decorated with bunting. flags and strires and
A great banner welcomed the boys of 81. The
fountain in the middle of the hall. filed with
flowers and surrounded by tropical plants,
dashed the jets of water into spray. and
great center piece separated the great
masses of people who filled the
hall long before the hour set for the welcome
address. A band discoursed stirring airs while
the crowd awaited the coming of the speakers.
AT O'CLOCK Mayor Francis, accompanied by the
war Governors and other distinguished guests,
entered the hall and took places on the plat
form. A few minutes later General Sherman
quietly entered, accompanied by two friends.
and succeeded IN getting almost on the platform
before he was discovered by the veterans. Then
a shout went up and a rousing cheer. The Gen
eral was given an armchair on the front
of the platform, near the speakers
rostrum. His presence seemed to
be the signal for the beginning
of the evenings programme, and the 4 900 up
turned faces gathered near the platform. Mayor
Francis arose, and. turning toward Gen. Fair
child, extended hearty welcome TO the Grand
Army of the Republic. He called the COM
pdar In bfafe 20 Eha hair